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Residents in Wigan are being reminded to store their cars securely after a
number of recent thefts.
Five similar incidents happened between Tuesday 1 July 2008 and Tuesday 15 July 2008 in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Police are linking these thefts and are undertaking inquiries with Merseyside Police and Lancashire.Constabulary.
In all cases, the offenders stole car keys from houses in the middle of
the night by smashing through windows or using tools to reach them from
the letterbox. Four cars have been stolen as a result.
The offenders stole a car on all but one occasion when residents were
woken.
On this occasion two offenders were seen. They were described as white
men, 18 years old, 5ft 8in tall, of slim build and clean-shaven.
Inspector Ian Arrowsmith of Hindley Neighbour Policing Team said: "These
incidents are the work of opportunistic thieves who must be caught.
"We are appealing to anyone with any information to get in touch so we can
catch the perpetrators.
"They can, however, be stopped if the opportunity to steal isn't there.
"I don't wish to alarm anyone in the area, but it is important to ensure
that car keys are kept in a safe place at night, preferably upstairs, not
visible on table tops and certainly not kept in door locks."
Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 7430 or
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Details of the five incidents:
At around 3.25am on Tuesday 15 July 2008, offenders smashed open the front
door of a house on Toothill Close in Bryn and stole the keys to a blue
Vauxhall Astra convertible registration PK55 TMO. The car is still
missing.
At around 3.30am on Tuesday 15 July 2008, offenders smashed open the
kitchen door of a house on Toothill Close and stole the keys to a
Volkswagen Polo but were disturbed.
During the night of Tuesday 8 July 2008 and Wednesday 9 July 2008,
offenders reached through the letterbox of a house on Buttermere Avenue in
Bryn and stole the keys to a Vauxhall Vectra. The car has since been
recovered in Kirkby, Merseyside.
During the night of Tuesday 8 July 2008 and Wednesday 9 July 2008,
offenders entered a house on Old Hall Drive and stole the keys to a Mini
Cooper. The car has since been recovered in Preston.
During the night of Tuesday 1 July 2008 and Wednesday 2 July 2008,
offenders entered a house on High Beeches Crescent and stole the keys to a
blue BMW 330 registration PJ55 XRW. |
